A fitness instructor diagnosed with breast cancer at 39 has paid tribute to the outstanding Ipswich Hospital clinicians whose care and compassion gave her hope for the future.

Members of the community and the Army support Emma Jayne Dale's fundraising for Ipswich Hospital's Blossom Appeal Picture: PROVIDED BY EMMA JAYNE DALE

Emma Jayne Dale, who moved to Suffolk from Hampshire in 2015 after her Apache pilot husband Joe was posted to Wattisham Airfield with the Army Air Corps, has issued a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to the teams who have treated her following her diagnosis in February.

“The Ipswich team from the very first moment, could not have been nicer,” said Mrs Dale, who lives in Hadleigh.

“Elizabeth Ball, the breast consultant and fellow breast cancer survivor, broke the news to me. Knowing that she understood exactly how I felt and what I was going through really helped me to process everything and know that there was a light at the end of the tunnel.

“My breast cancer nurse, Aly Spicer, is a huge asset to Ipswich Hospital and has been with me through every step of the way.

“Having this genuinely warm and caring person has literally transformed this journey for me. Without Aly this would have been much scarier to deal with.

“Evangelos Mallidis, my breast surgeon, could not have been better. He very quickly provided us with not only the facts and figures and options in terms of surgery but gave a very warm and caring side.

“For such an incredibly busy team, never did we feel rushed, or just a number.”